'Seven members of a 20-person delegation from Europe have been denied entry to Israel for apparently calling for a boycott on products made by Israeli companies in occupied Palestinian territories, local media report.

The delegation, which includes French members of the European Parliament, members of the French parliament and mayors of French cities, is expected to arrive next week.

On Monday, the Israeli Interior Ministry announced seven of the European officials would not be allowed to enter Israel, the Haaretz newspaper reported. The banned individuals are “senior politicians who consistently support the boycott against Israel and promote it," Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said. The newspaper says that the Israeli authorities made their decision after discovering that the European officials had called for a boycott of Israel.

According to the minister, the delegation’s plan also included a visit to see Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who is serving five cumulative life sentences plus 40 years for crimes committed by members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. The Palestinian militant movement serves as the armed wing of the Fatah movement.'